Mark A. Greenwood

Born:December 18, 1951 |
Lansing, MI, US

Mark Greenwood joined the EPA’s Office of General Counsel and eventually became the Assistant General Counsel for Pesticides and Toxic Substances. From there Greenwood joined the newly re-named Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxic Substances as Office Director. From his perspective, the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) is comprised of both a risk assessment and risk management program, but these have developed separately and often in conflict with each other. Greenwood outlines his vision and expectations for toxics reform. With REACH generating risk information, he expects EPA to focus increasingly on risk management, with or without new legislation. He discusses the importance of communicating chemical information to downstream users, as well as the political and practical feasibility of erasing the new chemicals/existing chemical distinction.

The information listed below is current as of the date the transcript was finalized.

Interview Details

Interview no.: Oral History
0644

No. of pages:
40

Minutes:
113

Interview Sessions

Jody A. Roberts and Kavita D. Hardy

26 February 2010

Ropes & Gray LLP, Washington, DC

Abstract of Interview

Mark Greenwood, as an undergraduate, wanted to work in government. As a law student, he discovered the emerging field of environmental law. After graduating, he joined the EPA’s Office of General Counsel and eventually became the Assistant General Counsel for Pesticides and Toxic Substances. From there Greenwood joined the newly re-named Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxic Substances as Office Director. His first challenge was recuperating from the failed asbestos rule, a demoralizing event that also effectively eliminated rule-based risk management. At the same time, he was given new tools with the Pollution Prevention Act. The office experimented with voluntary data collection and risk management initiatives, about which Greenwood drew some conclusions during the interview. From his perspective, the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) is comprised of both a risk assessment and risk management program, but these have developed separately and often in conflict with each other. He met with this difficulty when implementing a cohesive toxics program. In 1992 and 1994 Greenwood participated in Congressional hearings on TSCA, but Congress, in the end, did not provide a clearer agenda.

At the end of the interview, Greenwood outlines his vision and expectations for toxics reform. With REACH generating risk information, he expects EPA to focus increasingly on risk management, with or without new legislation. He discusses the importance of communicating chemical information to downstream users, as well as the political and practical feasibility of erasing the new chemicals/existing chemical distinction.

Education

Year

Institution

Degree

Discipline

1974

University of Michigan

BA

Political Science

1978

University of Michigan

MS

Public Policy

1978

University of Michigan

JD

Professional Experience

US Environmental Protection Agency

1978 to 1983

Attorney-Advisor

1983 to 1987

Assistant General Counsel for the Resources Conservation and Recovery Act

About the Interviewer

Jody A. Roberts

Jody A. Roberts is the Director of the Institute for Research at the Science History Institute. He received his PhD and MS in Science and Technology Studies from Virginia Tech and holds a BS in chemistry from Saint Vincent College. His research focuses on the intersections of regulation, innovation, environmental issues, and emerging technologies within the chemical sciences.

Kavita D. Hardy

Kavita D. Hardy was a research assistant in the Environmental History and Policy Program at the Chemical Heritage Foundation. She received a BA in chemistry and in economics from Swarthmore College.